AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
More than a year after the devastating explosion on Dejo Oyelese Street, Bodija Estate, Ibadan, affected residents are still waiting for the promised support from the Oyo State Government, with no clear timeline for its fulfillment.
Many victims lost their homes when explosives detonated in a chain reaction on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, killing several people and leaving many others with varying degrees of injuries.
Survivors have continued to nurse their wounds, but frustration is mounting over what they describe as government neglect.
The explosion, caused by a stockpile of explosives stored in a building by a Malian resident, left Ibadan in turmoil, with properties in the affected area severely damaged.
Some victims lamented that nine months after the incident, they were still unable to return to their homes. They called on both the state and federal governments to intervene urgently.
At least five people died, 77 sustained injuries, and 58 houses were damaged in the blast.
Yakubu Adedigba, Chairman of the Dejo Oyelese Vigilante Group, expressed concern over the plight of those affected and emphasized the need for government intervention.
Speaking in an earlier interview, Adedigba said, *“As patriotic and loyal Nigerians, we appreciate the past support from the Oyo State Government. However, we now passionately call on both the federal and state governments to do more to alleviate the suffering of the residents of this community.
“Most of us are senior citizens with limited means, and at this stage of our lives, rebuilding from scratch is almost impossible.”*
On January 16, 2025, the Ministry of Information announced that Governor Seyi Makinde had received a report from a special committee, led by the Deputy Governor, and that the disbursement of support would take place within two weeks.
However, four weeks later, the promise remains unfulfilled, leaving many residents anxious that their plight may soon be forgotten—just as has happened in similar cases across the country.
